Flagship Android phones rarely drop this far this fast, which makes the current pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S26 one of the more compelling reasons to upgrade if you have been holding off since launch.
The 6.3-inch screen is noticeably brighter than the Galaxy S23, up to 49% so, which means outdoor use in direct sunlight stops being a squinting exercise and starts feeling like something the phone was actually designed to handle.
Advertisement
Galaxy S26‘s screen is powered by a Samsung Exynos 2600 processor alongside 12GB of RAM, a chip that also handles a redesigned Vapour Chamber for improved heat dissipation during sustained workloads, meaning performance holds more consistently during longer gaming or editing sessions.
The triple rear camera system leads with a 50MP f/1.8 wide lens, supplemented by a 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide, and AP-driven Nightography processing brightens and sharpens low-light scenes without the heavy-handed noise reduction that tends to flatten detail in darker conditions.
Wider apertures on the Galaxy S26 compared with previous generations feed more light to the sensor, and that combination of hardware and processing carries through to video, where Super Steady’s Horizontal Lock keeps handheld footage level even during movement that would ordinarily introduce noticeable shake.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, S26’s battery capacity sits at 4300mAh with fast wired charging capable of reaching around 55 per cent in approximately 30 minutes, and video playback endurance is rated at up to eight hours longer than the Galaxy S23, a meaningful step up for anyone who uses their phone heavily away from a charger.
The Galaxy S26 at £589 suits anyone on an older Samsung or a mid-range phone who wants a clear performance and camera upgrade without paying full flagship prices, and the data top-up sweetens the deal further.
Now that we’re past March, Prime Video has plenty of new, must-see movies for us to stream this April. One of the platform’s biggest new originals is Chris Hemsworth’s thrilling action movie, Crime 101.
The Prime Video vault is also loaded with hit films from the past year, including Sinners, Novocaine, and The Naked Gun. Explore this guide for some of our top Prime Video recommendations.
One of the best movies to watch on Amazon Prime Video right now is also one that most people slept on in theaters. Crime 101 bombed at the box office despite having the cast, the script, and the direction to be a genuine crowd-pleaser.
Chris Hemsworth plays Mike Davis, a methodical jewel thief whose precision heists along LA’s 101 Freeway have left the LAPD baffled. Mark Ruffalo is the detective slowly connecting the dots, and Halle Berry is an insurance broker drawn into the orbit of both men. Directed by Bart Layton and based on Don Winslow’s novella, this is a twisty thriller that earns every comparison to Heat.
From producer David Leitch (John Wick, The Fall Guy), Pretty Lethal revolves around five ballerinas who get stranded in the forest when their bus crashes on the way to a dance competition. They find shelter in a nearby inn run by Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman), a veteran ballet dancer.
However, when Devora springs a sinister trap on them, this young ballet team must draw on all their training to escape and survive this dance of death.
For those waiting for more Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Prime Video may have the solution for you. Produced by the Russo Brothers (Avengers: Doomsday), The Bluff follows former pirate Ercell Bodden (Chopra Jonas), whose perfect life is thrown into chaos when the vengeful Captain Connor (Urban) appears at her doorstep.
Though she tried to bury her past as the dreaded “Bloody Mary,” Ercell is forced to fight once again to protect her family from Connor and his crew.
Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (Blue Beetle), The Wrecking Crew follows estranged half-brothers Jonny (Jason Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista) when they reunite in Hawaii following their father’s murder in a supposed hit-and-run. Jonny and James then set off to find the truth, uncovering heavy secrets about each other and their father’s killer along the way.
Despite the odds and their opposing personalities, Jonny and James come together to rampage against their enemies, triggering an all-out war with the Yakuza. All this makes The Wrecking Crew an explosive, hysterical adventure that fans of Lethal Weapon should enjoy.
Set in the 1930s, director Ryan Coogler’s Sinnersfollows gangster brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) as they return home to Clarksdale, Mississippi, to open a juke joint. For their opening night, they have their preacher-boy cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), sing the blues for their guests, harnessing magic that lets him conjure spirits from the past and future.
Unfortunately, Sammie’s music also attracts the ancient vampire Remmick (Jack O’Connell), who just happened to end up in town after fleeing from a group of Choctaw hunters. Remmick crashes the party, turning the guests into undead bloodsuckers, culminating in an epic, brutal showdown between humans and vampires.
Action star Liam Neeson is the new Frank Drebin at Police Squad. The Naked Gun follows Lt. Drebin Jr. as he investigates the death of a man linked to sinister tech mogul Richard Cane (Danny Huston). Teaming up with the deceased’s sister, crime novelist Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), Drebin tries to uncover the truth behind this strange death.
Though Drebin inherits his father’s brand of buffoonery, he discovers Cane’s plot to wipe out humanity using a literal plot device. While Police Squad’s future is at risk because of Drebin’s slip-up, he must step up to save the world from destruction and honor his father’s legacy.
Novocaine follows mild-mannered bank executive Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), who was born with a disorder that makes him unable to feel pain. After meeting Sherry (Amber Midthunder), the girl of his dreams, things finally seem to be looking up for Nathan as she helps him break out of his shell.
However, things turn bad when a group of robbers attacks his bank and takes Sherry hostage. Compelled to save Sherry, Nathan pursues the robbers, using his insensitivity to pain to fight his way through the streets of San Diego to reach his true love.
Outer Banks’ Madelyn Cline and Riverdale’s KJ Apa play two young lovers on a European excursion in The Map That Leads to You. While on a train with her two best friends, Heather (Cline) meets the handsome Jack (Apa). The two hit it off and embark on a journey to visit a list of places Jack’s grandfather wrote about in a journal.
As their time together comes to an end, Heather and Jack must decide whether their connection can survive while they are separated halfway across the world.
Among the top movies streaming on Prime, American Fiction stands apart as one of the sharpest and most surprisingly moving films in recent years. Jeffrey Wright plays Monk, a Black novelist whose serious literary work earns critical respect but zero sales. In a moment of frustration and grief, he writes a deliberately absurd, over-the-top parody of what publishers think Black stories should sound like, and the book becomes a runaway bestseller.
Cord Jefferson’s feature debut is both a biting social satire and a genuinely tender family drama running underneath it. Wright and Sterling K. Brown both earned Oscar nominations for their work here, and Jefferson was awarded the Best Adapted Screenplay for this movie.
Long after its defeat by Ellen Ripley, the Alien franchise’s first Xenomorph is found and experimented on by the crew of the Romulus space station. Eventually, a group of teenagers from a nearby colony searches through Romulus, ruined and infested with Xenomorphs, while on their journey to a new planet.
In true Alien fashion, Romulus sees one of the teens implanted with a baby Xenomorph, and the adult creature starts picking off members of the group. This makes for a good old-fashioned space slasher filled with thrilling action and unforgettable horror.
The Menu is easily one of the most rewatchable films in the entire Prime Video library. Ralph Fiennes plays Chef Slowik, a culinary genius who invites a selected group of wealthy guests to his exclusive island restaurant for a multi-course tasting menu. What unfolds is a darkly comic horror thriller that takes increasingly sharp aim at wealth, pretension, and the performance of taste.
Anya Taylor-Joy is the one guest who refuses to play along, and the tension between her and Fiennes is the beating heart of the film. It is wickedly funny, visually stunning, and has one of the most satisfying endings in recent memory.
Written and directed by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, this adult comedy tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), who wished for his stuffed bear (MacFarlane) to come to life as a child. Though Jon and Ted became best pals, they grew up to be childish adults who spend their days doing drugs and watching Flash Gordon together.
Jon tries to mature and hold a job for his girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis). However, Ted keeps pulling him back into their usual shenanigans, which threatens to tear these “thunder buddies” apart for good.
Long before Stranger Things came out, director J.J. Abrams gave us this blockbuster homage to ’80s horror and sci-fi. Set in the year 1979, Super 8 follows small-town teenager Joe (Joel Courtney) and his friends as they try to make a short zombie movie.
While filming one of their scenes, a pickup truck drives into a speeding train carrying some otherworldly creature. Pretty soon, people, pets, and machines all over town disappear. As the U.S. military hunts for this deadly entity, Joel and his friends must team up to uncover the truth and save their town.
When New York needed its finest, the city got the other guys instead. This hilarious cop comedy shows hot-headed Detective Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) reluctantly teaming up with mild-mannered Detective Gamble (Will Ferrell) out in the field.
While investigating a minor crime, the duo discovers a much larger criminal conspiracy. Seeing an opportunity to prove themselves as police officers, they try to set aside their differences and solve the case. But with these two guys, that’s easier said than done.
This iconic comedy film shows the members of Monty Python recreating the legend of King Arthur in the Middle Ages. The story follows Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his Knights of the Round Table, who are tasked by God to search for the Holy Grail.
Riding on their invisible horses with their clacking coconuts, Arthur and his warriors encounter such fearsome and bizarre foes as the French Taunter (John Cleese), the Knights Who Say “Ni,” and the killer Rabbit of Caerbannog. The film also features some hysterical moments, such as Arthur’s duel with the Black Knight, his encounter with two anarcho-syndicalist peasants, and the catchy musical number at Camelot.
Directed by John Sturges (1960’s The Magnificent Seven), The Great Escape follows a group of Allied POWs as they try to break out of a Nazi prison camp during World War II. American Captain Hilts (Steve McQueen) repeatedly tries and fails to escape captivity, getting locked up alone in the “cooler” as a result.
Meanwhile, his Allied inmates band together to dig their way out through a series of tunnels beneath the prison. Even though they make it out of the camp, escape does not mean freedom, as they must race to evade capture by the Nazis once more in one of the most iconic war films ever.
The Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams represent the first of the trio of Ardennes Classic and the point at which the cycling season moves from the cobbles to the hills, where the climbers traditionally dominate. Tadej Pogacar is absent in the men’s race, but Mattias Skjelmose returns to defend his title.
The Dane delivered arguably the biggest upset of last season in winning a sprint finish against Pogacar to become one of the few riders to beat the great Slovenian in 2025. Pogacar won’t be lining up this year – neither will other Big Three member Wout van Aert or Mathieu van der Poel – and nor will Tom Pidcock after his crash in the Volta a Catalunya, but there will still be a stacked men’s field.
Remco Evenepoel, also edged out by Skjelmose on the line 12 months ago, will again be among the favorites, while Irishman Ben Healey seems to have targeted this race all season and may go hard up the Ardennes climbs before the finish in Berg en Terblijt.
Advertisement
That’s where the women’s race also finishes – it starts in Maastricht, like the men – and the defending champion Mischa Bredewold is again back to defend her crown. Competition will come from Demi Vollering, the European champion and recent Tour of Flanders winner.
Read on for everything you need to know to watch 2026 Amstel Gold Race live streams from anywhere in the world.
Can I watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 for free?
Yes! There are numerous countries that have free-to-air coverage of the 2026 Amstel Gold Race cycling.
We recommend the SBS On Demandonline platform in Australia, which also has free English language coverage of the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Advertisement
Travelling abroad and set to miss one of the races? You can use a VPN to watch all the action free of charge as if you were right at home. Surfshark is our top pick of the options.
Use a VPN to watch any Amstel Gold Race 2026 stream
Advertisement
How to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams in the US
(Image credit: Other)
Cycling fans in the US will find the 2026 Amstel Gold Race live stream on FloBikes.
A subscription to FloBikes will set you back US$155.88 for the year or US$39.99 on a monthly basis.
If you’re out of the US but still want to watch any of the races, then don’t forget to explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your subscriptions from anywhere.
Advertisement
How to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams in the UK
Cycling fans in the UK can watch the Amstel Gold Race 2026, and the majority of UCI World Tour events, on TNT Sports.
To access this you’ll either need to add it to your TV package, or you can take out a standalone subscription via HBO Max, which launched on March 26 in the UK. The best value streaming package is £25.99 a month for a 12-term term. Previous Discovery+ subscribers will be transferred over automatically.
If you’re traveling overseas, don’t worry, as you can use Surfshark to watch your usual service from abroad.
Advertisement
How to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams in Canada
(Image credit: Other)
Cycling fans in Canada can watch Amstel Gold Race 2026, and most UCI World Tour events, on FloBikes.
A subscription will set you back CAN$215.88 for the year or CAN$49.99 on a monthly basis.
Not at home? Use Surfshark or another VPN service to make your device think you’re still in Canada.
Advertisement
How to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams in Australia
As mentioned above, Australian cycling fans are in luck as they have one of the widest ranges of English-language free-to-air content. That is thanks to coverage being provided by the online platform, SBS On Demand .
SBS has the rights to the Tour of Flanders 2026, plus Tour de France, Vuelta a España, Gent-Wevelgem, Paris-Roubaix, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Eschborn-Frankfurt and Paris-Tours, as well as many more.
Outside of Australia? Use a VPN to watch coverage of the Amstel Gold Race 2026.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Last May Duolingo’s stock peaked at $529.05. But while the learning app passed $1 billion in revenue in 2025 and 50 million daily active users, today its stock price has dropped more than 81%, to $100.51.
And there’s been other changes, reports Entrepreneur:
In April 2025, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn made headlines after writing a memo calling the company “AI-first.” In the memo, von Ahn announced that the language-learning platform would track employees’ AI use in performance reviews. Now, a year later, von Ahn is backtracking and rethinking how he measures employee performance. He told the Silicon Valley Girlpodcast earlier this month that Duolingo no longer considers AI use in performance reviews.
The change arose after employees started to ask, “Do you just want us to use AI for AI’s sake?” von Ahn explained. “We said no, look — the most important thing in your performance is that you are doing whatever your job is as well as possible. A lot of times, AI can help you with that, but if it can’t, I’m not going to force you to do that,” von Ahn said on the podcast. He felt as though the company was “trying to push something that in some cases did not fit” instead of “being held accountable for the actual outcome.” The CEO is, however, still sticking to other “constructive constraints” he introduced in the April 2025 memo, including stopping contractor hiring in cases where AI can assume their workload…
Von Ahn also mentioned that a few months ago, Duolingo had a day dedicated to vibe coding, or prompting AI to create an app without manually writing a single line of code. Every single person at the company, from engineers to human resources professionals, had to vibe code an app. Vibe coding has made an impact at the company. One of Duolingo’s latest offerings, a course teaching users how to play chess, arose when two people vibe-coded the first prototype of it, the CEO said. Neither of them knew how to play chess or program, but they managed to use AI to create the whole chess curriculum and a prototype of the app in about six months last year. Now chess is Duolingo’s fastest-growing course, according to von Ahn. “At this point, we have seven million daily active users that are learning chess,” the CEO said on the podcast.
Longtime venture capitalist Ron Conway said Friday that he was “recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.”
In a post on X, Conway wrote that he “will be stepping back from some of my usual activities,” but he will “continue to support” founders backed by his firm SV Angel: “With a more focused and balanced schedule, I can prioritize treatments while helping SV Angel founders at inflection points like we always do!”
Conway also said SV Angel will be “unchanged,” as his son Topher Conway “has made all of our investment decisions for the better part of the last decade.” And he noted that another son, Ronny Conway, joined as a managing partner in 2024.
“They bring experience from nearly every major technology cycle in Silicon Valley and are now focused on partnering with founders building the future of AI,” Conway said.
Advertisement
He added that he’s not revealing “the specific type of cancer” in his diagnosis, because he doesn’t want “speculation” about the prognosis, but he said he remains “optimistic.”
“I am fortunate to have the best/amazing team of UCSF doctors in San Francisco, and as you know, I never back down from a fight,” Conway said.
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
InnoCN GA27S1Q: 30-second review
On paper, the GA27S1Q is a remarkably well-specified monitor at a price that seriously undercuts the established names. Whether InnoCN can deliver on those specifications in the real world is what I set out to establish in this review, and spoiler alert, it largely hits its marks.
This design was originally pitched as a gaming platform, but it’s impossible for businesses to ignore a 27-inch QD-OLED panel running at 280Hz with an ergonomically adjustable chassis and a $400 price tag.
Advertisement
Especially as that cost puts it some distance below the usual asking price for this class of display from the likes of LG, Samsung, and Asus.
The headline numbers are certainly striking. A 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 0.03ms GtG response time, dual HDMI 2.1 ports, dual DisplayPort 1.4, a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, and coverage claimed at 98% DCI-P3 all look very good on paper. The panel supports a 48 to 280Hz adaptive sync range, covers AMD FreeSync and is G-Sync compatible, and includes VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.
Where OLED always gives with one hand and takes with the other is brightness. The GA27S1Q is rated at 250 nits typical in SDR, which is a long way south of the figures that premium IPS and Mini-LED panels advertise. Therefore, this isn’t the screen for a brightly lit office, but it would work fine in a darker environment.
Advertisement
The design carries over the approach seen on other recent InnoCN monitors, with a flat panel, a three-sided frameless bezel, and a stand that offers height adjustment, tilt, swivel, and 90-degree pivot. RGB lighting sits on the rear cover, which can be switched off for those who would rather not have a light show behind their desk.
What the GA27S1Q offers for the business user is a highly affordable 27-inch panel with decent colour accuracy, low power consumption and sufficient input flexibility, all at a significant price reduction over branded options.
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
It might not be 4K or have enough nits of brightness for a premium HDR experience, but it ticks enough other boxes that it’s worthy of consideration for our best business monitors on value alone.
The GA27S1Q launched in late January 2026 with a price of $549.99. At that level, it sits in very interesting territory, undercutting well-known 27-inch QD-OLED competitors by a meaningful margin.
InnoCN ships to the US, the UK, Canada, and EU countries directly, with free shipping included and a 30-day return window. A 12-month warranty covers manufacturing defects, with lifetime technical support promised beyond that.
UK and European pricing in local currencies had not been formally confirmed at the time of writing. The direct site prices in USD and the company’s existing shipping infrastructure to this region suggest the GA27S1Q should be accessible to UK buyers, though it may need to be ordered directly from the InnoCN website rather than through a local retailer.
Advertisement
InnoCN GA27S1Q: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Specification
Detail
Model
Advertisement
GA27S1Q (also known as 2780s)
Panel size
27 inches (flat)
Panel type
Advertisement
QD-OLED
Resolution
2560 × 1440 (QHD / 1440p)
Aspect ratio
Advertisement
16:9
Pixel density
108.8 PPI
Refresh rate
Advertisement
280Hz (adaptive sync range 48–280Hz)
Response time
0.03ms GtG
Brightness (typical)
Advertisement
250 nits (SDR) / 200 nits minimum
Contrast ratio
1,500,000:1
Colour depth
Advertisement
10-bit (1.07 billion colours)
Colour coverage
98% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB, 94% Adobe RGB, 78% BT.2020
Colour accuracy
Advertisement
Delta E < 2 (factory claimed)
Viewing angles
178° horizontal / 178° vertical
HDR
Advertisement
VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400
Surface treatment
Non-glare (matte)
Bezel
Advertisement
Three-sided frameless
Connectivity
2× HDMI 2.1, 2× DisplayPort 1.4, 1× 3.5mm audio out
Adaptive sync
Advertisement
AMD FreeSync, G-Sync compatible
Speakers
2W × 2
Stand adjustment
Advertisement
Tilt -5° to +20°, swivel ±22.5°, pivot 90°, height 120mm
VESA mount
100 × 100mm
RGB lighting
Advertisement
Yes (rear cover)
Power supply
External adapter (DC 19V, 4.74A)
Power consumption
Advertisement
65W typical / 100W max
Dimensions (with stand)
611.1 × 513.5 × 221mm
Weight
Advertisement
5.7kg
Scaler
MT9802QDQTBX
Special features
Advertisement
Low blue light, flicker-free, PIP/PBP, anti-burn-in, Game Plus
InnoCN GA27S1Q: Design
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Thin and elegant
Power brick
Lacks a USB hub
The GA27S1Q follows a design language that InnoCN has been refining across its recent monitor range. The flat panel sits behind a three-sided frameless bezel, with only a thin chin visible at the bottom of the screen. The overall silhouette is clean and modern, without chasing the aggressive gamer aesthetic that dominates the other side of this market.
The stand is a genuine highlight at this price point. It offers 120mm of height adjustment, plus or minus 22.5 degrees of swivel, a tilt range from minus 5 to plus 20 degrees, and a full 90-degree pivot for portrait mode. There isn’t an orientation sensor, so if you switch, you will need to make some changes on the computer to output in portrait mode.
While hardly a business requirement, RGB lighting is present on the rear panel, but this can be switched off entirely via the OSD for those who prefer a calmer desk. VESA mounting is supported at the standard 100 x 100mm pattern, which means swapping to an arm is straightforward.
Advertisement
Connectivity is two HDMI 2.1 ports, two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, and a single 3.5mm audio out. The dual HDMI 2.1 ports are useful for anyone running both a high-end PC and a console, with both capable of supporting 1440p at high refresh rates without an adapter.
The omission of a USB hub is notable at this price level, and the external power brick, rather than an integrated PSU, adds a small amount of cable-management friction, though this is common across OLED-class panels to better manage heat.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The OSD is navigated via a rear-mounted joystick, a far superior experience to the guess-the-button game that some monitors still embrace. However, you don’t need to use this at all, since a downloadable app is available which provides all the functionality of the OSD from the desktop.
Overall, this is a well-considered design that shows off how thin the QLED panel can make a monitor. It’s lightweight, enabling it to be easily moved around, and the OSD provides a wide range of configuration options for those who like to calibrate their screens.
Advertisement
There are some caveats to do with HDR and how that locks many features down, which I’ll talk about later, but there isn’t much about the GA27S1Q that makes it immediately identifiable as a low-cost option.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
InnoCN GA27S1Q: Performance
Under 250 nits
100% sRGB
99% AdobeRGB
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Colour Gamut
Percentage
sRGB
Advertisement
100%
AdobeRGB
99%
P3
Advertisement
98%
NTSC
96%
Rec2020
Advertisement
85%
Gamma
2.2
Brightness/Contrast
Advertisement
Maximum Brightness
232.6
Maximum Contrast
N/A
Advertisement
These numbers show what OLED can offer, and it’s jolly impressive for anyone who works with colour on a regular basis. Those who get one of these and want to show off can send it into HDR mode and run some YouTube HDR demonstrations, and the colours are zinging.
However, it’s not perfect, and the brightness limitations of this panel keep it from being ideal for HDR video work, as under 250 nits just isn’t enough to surpass HDR 400 ratings.
For HDR video work, at least HDR 1000 is needed, and this display can’t hit those notes.
But it’s evidence from the AdobeRGB 99% score that for less demanding colour work and photo editing, the GA27S1Q is more than up to the task.
Advertisement
One issue I need to make readers aware of is that this monitor doesn’t come with an excess of documentation. And, when I initially tried to test it using my Datacolor Spyder Pro calibrator, I found that all the optional modes were locked from modification.
While InnoCN didn’t mention this in the paperwork, I eventually discovered that when HDR mode is active on this display, you cannot adjust brightness, contrast, or select any other specific mode. Once HDR is deactivated, it’s fully customisable again.
What’s important to understand is that the primary limitation of OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology in terms of lifespan is the gradual and uneven degradation of the organic materials used to output light.
Unlike LCDs, which use a separate backlight, OLED pixels are self-emissive; each pixel generates its own light and wears out individually based on how much it is used. In OLED, this eventually causes pixels to wear out, which can cause retained images to burn into the panel and uneven wear, with blue pixels displaying more than red and green.
Advertisement
On paper, an OLED panel could last 10-20 years, but realistically, “real-world” usable life often ranges between 3 to 6 years for high-intensity use cases like computer monitors.
In an attempt to mitigate these issues and give this design the best chance of valuable use, the OSD contains a full spectrum of tricks and options to extend the lifespan of the panel.
These include pixel shifting, the dimming of static icons and the taskbar, boundary detection, and even a care mode. This level of detail is often missing on laptops with OLED displays, so it’s good to see that InnoCN included them here. Though some documentation to explain what all these features do would also be helpful.
The only other issue I have to report is that, for whatever reason, I couldn’t test the contrast ratio, which might have been due to the extreme nature of the contrast ramp on this display.
Advertisement
The quoted contrast is 1.5M:1, which is insane.
Overall, the performance of this OLED panel is the same level as I would expect from a branded monitor, and its only noticeable weakness is brightness. But, using typically around 65W, that lower brightness level does translate into a reduced power consumption.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
InnoCN GA27S1Q: Final verdict
On specifications alone, the GA27S1Q makes a highly persuasive case. InnoCN has packaged a QD-OLED panel, a proper ergonomic stand, dual HDMI 2.1, and a 280Hz refresh rate at a price that sits noticeably below comparable offerings from established display brands. The 98% DCI-P3 colour coverage and factory Delta E less than 2 calibration suggest this should look excellent out of the box.
Advertisement
The practical caveats apply to the technology rather than to this specific panel. SDR brightness is modest by LCD standards, HDR True Black 400 is a step below the True Black 500 rating seen on some rivals, and there is no USB hub for peripherals. Those are known trade-offs with QD-OLED gaming monitors at this price level, and buyers who are aware of them going in will almost certainly find that the visual quality compensates for some of these issues.
For those looking at this display on the site and seeing the word ‘gaming’ and thinking this isn’t for business are missing the bigger picture, quite literally. This is almost the perfect display for creatives working with colour, as well as for anyone working in animation or game development.
I’m sure you can get exactly the same panel repackaged in black with a business brand logo on it, and pay at least twice the price for that. This is easily the best monitor I’ve experienced from InnoCN, and I’m excited to see what they do next.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Tesla is expanding its robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston, according to a social media post from the company.
The post says simply that “Robotaxi is now rolling out in Dallas & Houston 🤠” and includes a 14-second video showing Tesla vehicles driving without human monitors or drivers in the front seat.
Tesla may not be running many vehicles in either of these new markets yet, with crowdsourced data on the Robotaxi Tracker website only registering a single vehicle in each city (compared to 46 active vehicles logged in Austin).
Capacitive displacement sensors span a wide range of resolution, from the touchscreen sensors which can only detect displacement as a binary state, all the way to the sensors in semiconductor fabs which measure down to nanometers. The sensor [Matthias Wandel] built with a Raspberry Pi Pico lands somewhere in the middle, providing both sensitive measurements and an absolute scale.
The idea is that the amount of overlap between two metal plates should be detectable by measuring the capacitance between them. Reaching any kind of usable resolution would require a very precise measure of capacitance, around the picofarad range. [Matthias] realized that the Pico’s GPIO pins have an inherent capacitance, and can have a pull-down resistor set, essentially creating an RC circuit. [Matthias] would set a pin to a high-level output, then switch it to an input. The amount of time the pin takes to switch from high to low indicates the RC constant, which includes the capacitance attached to the pin.
When attached to a metal plate, the Pico was sensitive enough to detect the plate’s capacitive coupling to [Matthias]’s hand through a thick wooden floor. To measure capacitance between two metal plates, the Pico measured how well a voltage signal applied to one plate was coupled to the other plate. This was sensitive enough to measure the slight change in the dielectric constant when [Matthias] waved a piece of ABS pipe between the two capacitor plates. Making actual position measurements was tricky, since capacitance changed with both X- and Z-axis shifts in the plates.
Advertisement
Digital calipers use similar capacitive sensors to make their measurements, as [Matthias] knows from his experiments in hacking them. If you’re interested in more details, check out this teardown of some cheap digital calipers.
Safe driving skills can mean the difference between a mundane morning commute and a potentially serious accident. It’s especially true for motorcyclists, as riding a motorcycle is one of the most dangerous forms of transportation on the road. Taking a motorcycle safety course is a good idea, and many U.S. states, including California, offer such a program. The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) is available at a cost of up to $425 for riders 21 and over, and up to $395 for those riders 20 and under.
Built around the R.I.D.E. philosophy (Responsible, Informed, Disciplined, and Equipped), the program’s fee covers student training, including classroom instruction and riding practice on a closed course. Training takes place at one of 87 different locations in the state, and an approved helmet is supplied beforehand. The program even provides motorcycles for training, though students can ride their own, as long as they meet predetermined requirements. Students are encouraged to wear motorcycle gear that makes riding safer, including pants, boots, a jacket, and gloves. Eye protection is also advised.
Expert instructors guide students through real-world situations, helping them to develop their skills along the way. Riders get comprehensive instruction based on the latest safety research. Students may receive insurance breaks once the course is completed, which could help offset the cost. Additionally, riders can get a DMV skills test waiver, saving time in the long run.
Advertisement
What you need to know about the CMSP
Sukanya Sitthikongsak/Getty Images
There are some things riders should know before enrolling in the California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP). First, the minimum age is 15 ½, and students need a valid driver’s license, learner’s permit, or DMV ID card. Though self-balancing bikes do exist, you’re required to maintain your balance while sitting on a bike. Of the two courses offered, the 1-Day Premier Course is the shortest and is completed in around eight hours.
The Motorcyclist Training Course (MTC) runs for about 15 hours over a three-day period. Unlike the Premier Course, the MTC is actually mandatory for all riders under the age of 21. This means that even if you do have some experience and want to go straight to the DMV for your motorcycle license, you won’t be able to get it. That’s because the MTC is California’s primary safety and training program, and all eligible riders must successfully complete it to move forward.
Advertisement
But while the CMSP has trained over 1,500,000 motorcyclists since 1987, some online reports seem to contradict the effectiveness of such programs. According to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rider education programs yield mixed results. Skill improvement and rider behavior often don’t translate into real-world scenarios, and don’t necessarily reduce the number of motorcycle-related crashes over time. This means that even though the CMSP seeks to prepare students for the road, it’s the experience and knowledge accumulated afterward that makes all the difference.
TCL has announced pricing and availability for its QM8L and QM7L series TVs, bringing its SQD Mini-LED display technology, first introduced in the flagship X11L SQD Mini-LED TV at CES 2026, to more accessible price points and a wider range of screen sizes.
The company also announced its first RGB Mini-LED TV, the RM9L series, plus a new 50-inch screen size option for its entry-level QM6K Mini-LED TV series, which carries over from 2025.
SQD stands for Super Quantum Dots, which is a new, enhanced version that provides extended color gamut coverage (up to 100% BT.2020, according to TCL) compared to standard Quantum Dots. Along with the new color tech, the QM8L series features the same WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel and TSR AI Pro processor found in the X11L, while the QM7L features an HVA 2.0 Pro Panel and TSR AI processor.
TCL QM8L SQD Mini-LED
A TCL QM8L series TV at a recent preview event in NYC
TCL’s QM8L series TVs are available now in screen sizes from 65 to 98 inches, with pricing ranging from $2,499.99 to $5,999.99. Those figures are in line with last year’s QM8K series Mini-LED models, which relied on standard quantum dot technology.
TCL Deep Color System
The TCL Deep Color System used in the QM8L Series consists of Super Quantum Dots and the company’s CSOT UltraColor Filter, which uses 5 Nanometer particles as compared to the 60 Nanometer particles used in regular mini-LED TVs and is claimed to provide accurate pixel-level color, When combined with an Advanced Color Purity Algorithm, the result is consistent color saturation along with the elimination of color crosstalk for purer colors and more accurate whites.
Advertisement
WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel with Enhanced Halo Control System
TCL’s WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel in QM8L series TVs provides a wide color viewing angle with increased static contrast over last year’s QM8K series. It also continues the ZeroBorder design that minimizes the visual effect of edge bezels and has a contrast-enhancing anti-reflective layer to reduce screen glare when viewing in bright rooms.
For the QM8L series, TCL has upped the precision of the mini-LED panel’s backlight controller from 23 bits to 26 bits, and added shadow detail optimization. The new TVs feature up to 4,000 backlight local dimming zones (on the 98-inch model), have a specified brightness of up to 4,000 nits, and use TCL’s Enhanced Halo Control System to minimize backlight blooming effects.
The QM8L series features a high-contrast, anti-reflection screen that, unlike matte screens, is still subject to some glare
TSR AI Pro Processor
The TSR AI Pro Processor in QM8L series TVs features Super Resolution 2.0 for detail enhancement. It also provides AI-enhanced color, contrast, clarity, motion, and upscaling, all of which can be turned on or off on a selective basis.
Google Gemini Interactive AI, with Hands-Free Voice Control
The Google smart TV platform provided in the QM8L series isn’t the basic one found in countless smart TVs, but one that’s enhanced with the Gemini Interactive AI assistant. This feature extends the TV’s content search capabilities by letting you also engage in conversations – hands-free, using the TV’s built-in far-field mic – and it can also be used to find out information about a wide range of subjects. Gemini can further provide news briefs with related video clips and can generate screensaver art from text or voice prompts
Advertisement
Format Support
The QM8L series supports the Dolby Vision (IQ), HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG high dynamic range formats, and Dolby Vision 2 Max support will be added to that list in a future software update. Picture presets include a Filmmaker Mode and IMAX Enhanced mode.
Audio by Bang & Olufsen
TCL QM8L TVs are stacked with audio features, starting with the built Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker array. This provides support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks, and there are also dual bass modules on the TV’s back panel. An optional subwoofer can be connected wirelessly, and the QM8L series also supports Dolby Atmos FlexConnect for use with the company’s Z100 wireless speaker and Z100-SW subwoofer in up to 4.1.4-channel configurations.
Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Gaming and Connections
The QM8L series has a native 144Hz refresh rate and also supports 1080p/288Hz input for PC gaming and FreeSync Premium Pro. High refresh rates are supported across all four of the TV’s HDMI 2.1 inputs, and there are also Ethernet and USB ports, an optical digital audio output, and an RF input for the TV’s ATSC 3.0 tuner.
Advertisement
TCL QM7L SQD Mini-LED
The TCL QM7L’s Enhanced Halo Control System is effective at eliminating backlight blooming
TCL QM7L series TVs are available for pre-order in screen sizes ranging from 55 inches to 98 inches, priced from $1,199.99 to $3,999.99. Like the QM8L series models, these feature TCL’s Enhanced Halo Control System and Deep Color System with Super Quantum Dots and CSOT UltraColor Filter but use a more basic HVA 2.0 Pro Panel.
The QM7L series features TCL’s new 26-bit backlight controller but the local dimming zone count is more modest, topping out at 2,100 zones on the 98-inch model. Brightness is specified at up to 3,000 peak nits. The TSR AI Processor used in the QM7L series supports the standard Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats, but can’t be updated in the future for Dolby Vision 2.
Other key QM7L features include an Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker array and Gemini for Google TV. For gaming, the QM7L supports 144Hz input on two of its four HDMI ports, and advanced audio capabilities include optional wireless subwoofer support and Dolby Atmos FlexConnect (3.1.3-channel configuration).
TCL RM9L RGB Mini-LED
TCL’s RM9L RGB-Mini LED TV is capable of full BT.2020 color gamut reproduction, but the company still considers SQD-Mini-LED to be its flagship TV technology
TCL RM9L series TVs are also available for pre-order now in screen sizes ranging from 75 inches to 98 inches, priced from $7,999.99 to $29,999.99. The company calls the new series “the most advanced RGB-Mini LED TV to date,” with its individual red, green, and blue LED modules capable of full BT.2020 color gamut reproduction.
Similar to the company’s SQD-Mini-LED TVs, the RM9L series uses TCL’s CSOT UltraColor Filter “for more consistent color saturation.” It further features TCL’s Enhanced Halo Control Systems, high-contrast CSOT WHVA 2.0 Ultra panel, and TSR AI Pro processor.
A 30-bit controller provides precise backlight control over up to 3,800 local dimming zones, and the RM9L series TVs are specified for up to 6,000 nits peak brightness. The Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, and HLG high dynamic range formats are supported, and the RM9L series will get Dolby Vision 2 Max support in a future software update.
Advertisement
Gaming support is similar to the QM8L series TVs, with four 4K/144Hz-capable HDMI 2.1 ports. Audio features are also the same, with an Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker array, optional wireless subwoofer support, and Dolby Atmos FlexConnect (4.1.4-channel).
The Bottom Line
TCL is positioning its SQD-Mini-LED TV lineup as its top TVs for 2026, and asserts that Super Quantum Dots delivers superior performance to the RGB LED tech that manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, and even TCL itself are promoting. Outside of our hands-on review of the Samsung R95H Micro RGB TV, eCoustics hasn’t had an opportunity to fully assess the benefits of RGB LED, but our full TCL QM8L series TV review confirms that SQD-Mini-LED provides stiff competition for that new tech.
The TCL X11L series (full review in the works) is currently the company’s flagship SQD Mini-LED TV, and with its specified 10,000 nits peak brightness and up to 20,000 local dimming zones, it’s about as formidable as mini-LED TVs get. But at prices ranging from $6,999.99 (75-inch) to $9,999.99 (98-inch), the X11L series is also as expensive as TVs get.
With many of the same features found in the company’s flagship, the TCL QM8L series is an impressive value. It might not have as many dimming zones, and it’s also not as bright, but as we found in our review, it gives both the X11L series and the forthcoming slew of RGB LED models a good run for the money.
Advertisement
The QM7L series also has impressive specs, and also looks to be a great value. Aside from lower peak brightness and fewer dimming zones, its main disadvantages compared to the step-up QM8L appear to be lesser gaming features and no Dolby Vision 2 Max support.
Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
TCL is bullish on the performance of its new RM9L series RGB Mini-LED TVs as compared to the competition, but SQD Mini-LED is clearly the favorite son here. That’s because TCL sees limitations in RGB LED technology that can result in color crosstalk plus a higher level of backlight blooming artifacts than you’ll get on SQD Mini-LED. The company obviously wanted to cover all of the bases with its 2026 TV lineup, however, and that’s why both backlight technologies are represented.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login